Manuel Pellegrini will again be thrown onto the back foot this weekend as he attempts to put a team together that can reproduce the sort of form we saw against Manchester United last weekend.
His big problem is in midfield where he doesn’t appear to have a single creative player available to him given Manuel Lanzini and Samir Nasri’s injury problems.
This couldn’t be the moment for a Jack Wilshere return could it? No stop being silly Hugh, he wasn’t even on the bench last weekend despite reports from the boss that he was training again.
There may be an answer but it would mean a radical overhaul of the team in that key position which could be filled by Felipe Anderson with Arthur Masuaku playing wide left and Aaron Cresswell slotting into the left back position again.
Masuaku would deserve to keep his place anyway after a top display at Old Trafford whilst Anderson can comfortably take on the play making role.
However, it’s also going to be difficult not to give Michail Antonio a start aftrer last week when he was hugely effective off the bench.
However, my starting X1 would be as suggested: Fabianski; Zaba, Ogbonna, Balbuena, Cresswell; Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Masuaku; Anderson; Aranutovic.
The very suggestion that Masuaku who is clearly a winger not a defender, actually being played as a winger?
How very dare you….
Agree tho he did well at LB in Man U game was very good
But I’d play him on LW over Lanzini who IMO is best in mir not wing
think you may be right there, but then, what other options are there?
Ogbonna left back and Diop centre back may work.
Could give Johnson another go. I was surprised he wasn’t on the bench last game & he played LB for U23s last game too. Did well at Man City I think he should at least be on bench
But I’d be ok with Oggy at LB tho be slow but defensive run up right then maybe Balbuena & Diop can start getting their partnership bavk. Bd I think Balburna when played has been our best CB & he came back in strong
Seems like we’ve have been around 40-42 points for months now. Man U game shame but good performance hopefully can build on it tho Leicester are good & need to have 3 in mod if ask me bc they have class mods like Tielemans, Maddz, Banrws, Ndidi cant leave it all to Rice.
Shame about Nasri bc tho i wasn’t sure about him when he has played he has been great & the reason for turning around our games. But he didn’t play for almost year and half. And I’d like to keep him but I wouosnt offer more then 6 more months with Extension bc injuries & not many other clubs will be in for him especially if wants to play in PL.
And if stays for then year & half. Bit we could use him right now tho Felipe has been in good form & gets stick but foes track back has been very good but we can’t just count on only him to create.
I’d like to see Johnson play again even if at LB he should at least be in Bench IMO was surprised he wasn’t last game but been playing LB in U23s so maybe MP is preparing tho like to see him get go at RB & it Arthur can play like HW did last game will be alright but need 3 in mid either 433 or 451 IMO
Johnson/Zab Balbuena Oggy/Diop Arthur
Snodgrass is band ffs Obiang then Noble Rice
Antonio Chicharito Felipe
If Johnson is fit give him a try at rb, Fredericks positioning and awareness is awful, he relies on his pace rather than his head to get him out of trouble. Nathan Holland instead of Masuaku in left midfield / wing. Let’s have a punt with some young players, we have 4 games to see where we need to strengthen so let’s experiment.
I actually like the idea of Masuaku wide left – however I feel that after his cameo against Man Utd Antonio should be one of the first names on the team sheet against Leicester